Fruit respiration : putting alternative pathways into perspective
Iglesias Sánchez, Ariadna (Centre de Recerca en Agrigenòmica)
García Carbonell, Sergio (Centre de Recerca en Agrigenòmica)
Fernie, Alisdair (Max-Planck-Institut f€ur Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie)
Pujol Abajo, Marta (Centre de Recerca en Agrigenòmica)
Florez-Sarasa, Igor (Centre de Recerca en Agrigenòmica)

Fecha:	2026
Resumen:	Over the past century, research has significantly advanced our understanding of fruit respiration, from (eco)physiological processes to molecular mechanisms. This review focuses on the functional relevance and regulatory roles of mitochondrial alternative respiratory pathways (ARPs) during fruit growth and ripening. We revisit classical distinctions between climacteric and nonclimacteric fruits, considering recent insights into the alternative oxidase, uncoupling proteins, and type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases (NDIIs). These components are increasingly recognized as central to maintaining metabolic flexibility, energy balance, and redox homeostasis, supporting both primary and secondary metabolism. We highlight how CO2 refixation and organic acid metabolism, often displaying C4/CAM-like features, impose specific demands on mitochondrial electron transport, and how spatial heterogeneity in metabolism and O2 availability across fruit tissues can shape respiratory activity. Interactions between fruit photosynthesis and respiration remain poorly understood, particularly under stress. The interplay between respiration, ethylene biosynthesis, and signaling is discussed, emphasizing feedback loops involving mitochondrial retrograde regulation and redox-sensitive control of ripening. Key knowledge gaps include in vivo flux analyses, tissue-resolved energy profiling, and functional characterization of underexplored ARP components. Finally, we outline postharvest and metabolic engineering strategies targeting ARPs as complementary to ethylene-centered approaches to improve fruit quality, stress resilience, and nutritional value.
Ayudas:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-120229RA-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2024-163099NB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2021-125998OB-C21 Generalitat de Catalunya 2021/SGR-00756 Agencia Estatal de Investigación RED2022-134072-T Agencia Estatal de Investigación CEX2019-000902-S Agencia Estatal de Investigación PRE2018-083610 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PRE2021-097127 Agencia Estatal de Investigación RYC2019-028030-I
Nota:	Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya
Derechos:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Lengua:	Anglès
Documento:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Materia:	Alternative respiratory pathways ; Climacteric ripening ; Ethylene ; Fruit growth ; Fruit respiration ; Secondary metabolism
Publicado en:	New phytologist, Vol. 250, Num. 1 (April 2026) , p. 54-73, ISSN 0028-646X

DOI: 10.1111/nph.70882

20 p, 2.3 MB

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